Call for Applications: African Women Innovating in Healthcare Program

It is part of their continued commitment to increasing the participation of female founders across the continent. By offering tailored support they aim to empower even more women to lead and scale healthcare innovations in Africa.

Villgro Africa is looking for ventures with bold, innovative solutions to some of the most pressing healthcare challenges on the continent. If your startup is working on any of the following:

• Strengthening and equipping the health workforce through employment creation, digital skills training, and integration into digital health systems
• Addressing Africa’s heavy burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases through solutions targeting malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, mental health, and neglected tropical diseases
• Improving access to quality medicines and medical equipment by tackling supply chain inefficiencies and combating the spread of counterfeit products.

Benefits

• Selected companies will go through a 9-month incubation and acceleration program during which they will be offered customized support based on their needs, including:
  • Support networks: Access to a women-led community and peer learning opportunities.
  • Mentorship and guidance: Access to inspiring and appropriate role models in your field.
  • Technical expertise: Customized business and technology support by Villgro Africa and partners.
  • Sponsorship: Curated access to potential external partners and other players in the start-up ecosystem.
  • Funding: A fair opportunity to secure funding to grow your solution.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant must meet all these criteria below:
  • A female national of an African country or holds indefinite leave to remain in an African country
  • Domiciled in an East African country in which they must be a legal resident
  • Developing the proposed health innovation in their host East Africa country
  • Holds long-term control and management of the venture, and an active role in both strategic and day-to-day decision-making.
  • The call is open to women-led innovative ventures tackling key challenges in healthcare in East Africa. Innovations supporting frontline health workers are especially encouraged.
• The venture must be:
  • Incorporated in East Africa.
  • A for-profit organization represented by a female founder/co-founder who is at least 18 years old and a citizen/national with a legal presence on the African continent.
  • Owned/led/operated by an African woman (women). They define this as having a woman with long-term control and management of the business, an equity stake, and an active role in both strategic and day-to-day decision-making.
  • Proven traction in at least one East Africa country and potential to expand across Africa.
  • Scalable distribution channels.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Non-profits, consultancies, intermediaries, and consortiums are not eligible.

Selection Criteria

• The selection committee will meet to select the top startups in the initial screening and harmonize the cohort based on:
  • Team: Strength of the current team
  • Product: They are seeking solutions that are tackling key healthcare challenges in healthcare like strengthening and equipping the health workforce through employment creation, addressing Africa’s heavy burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases and improving access to quality medicines and medical equipment.
  • Geographic relevance: A company registered and operating in East Africa
  • Impact: High-impact health innovations that improve lives and drive meaningful improvements in healthcare equity, access, and quality.

Application Requirements

• Applicants must submit the following:
  • An updated company pitch deck.
  • A 2-minute pitch video or product demo if available.

For more information, visit Villgro Africa.